File cabinet interlock and reinforcing element



NOV; 5, 1946. w K 'D 2,410,700

F ILE CABINET INTERLOCK AND REINFORCING ELEMENT Fi led Feb. 26, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet i INVENTOR. PHIL/P ZAL/(IND ATTORNEY 1946- P. ZALKIND 0 2,410,700

FILE CABINET INTERLOCK AND REINFORCING ELEMENT Filefi Feb'. 26, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. PHIL/P ZA L/f/ND ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 5, 1946 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE FE LE CABINET INTERLOCK AND REIN- FORCING ELEMENT Philip Zalkind, New York, N. Y.

Application February 26, 1943, Serial No. 477,204

3 Claims. (01. 312-111) My present invention relates to collapsible con tainers of the casing and drawer type adapted to coact to form file cabinet sections which may be stacked one upon the other.

A principal object of my invention is the provision of interlocking elements for collapsible casing and drawer combinations.

Another object of my invention is the forming of such interlock elements in such manner that they may cooperate with non-metallic reinforcing members.

An additional object of my invention is the arrangement of various interlocking members for interengaging the reinforcing structure of vertically and horizontally adjacent cabinets in order to lock the same in stacked formation.

' These and many other objects of my invention will in part by apparent and where not apparent will be pointed out in the following description and drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a View in perspective showing the front of a casing member embodying the reinforcing structure of my present invention.

Figure 2 is a view corresponding to that of Figure 1 showing one of the reinforcing members disengaged preliminary tocollapse.

Figure 3 is a View in perspective corresponding to those of Figures 1 and 2 showing all of the rein orcing members disengaged preliminary to collapse.

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of the casing structures of Figures 1-3 in collapsed condition.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 3 locking in the direction of the arrows and showing one method of attachment of the vertical reinforcing members.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary enlarged View of a corner of my casing showing one form of my interlock element.

Figure 7 is a View in perspective of an interlock bar for cooperation with my interlock element.

Figure 8 is a view in perspective of a preferred form of interlock element disassociated from the casing.

Figure 9 is a view in perspective of the upper right-hand corner of the casing of Figure 3 before the interlock element has beenintegra'ted there'- with.

Figure 1c is a cross-sectionai view taken on line iii-la! of Figure 6 looking in the direction of the arrows. I

Figure 11 is a view in perspective of aslightly modified form of interlock element shown attached to the casing.

Figure 12-is a view in perspective of the interlock element of Figure 11.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 4; I have here shown a collapsible casing member 58 constructed in accordance with my invention'having' atop" wall 5!, side walls52-and 53and bottom wall 54; 6 reinforcing members 60, til are then folded in:

. 2 A channel shaped reinforcing member 55' preferably of metal is clamped over the forward margin of the top wall and serves to rotatably secure at each end thereof one leg of each of the angle wires 51, 51.

The opposite angle wires El, 51 may be independent, thus each having a leg which is rotat ably captured by the reinforcing member 55, or the angle wire members may be formed from a single U-shaped wire, the base of which extends along the entire length of channel 56 and the. projecting legs of which rotate together. The; angle wires 51 may be utilized to maintain the walls of the casing in rigid angular relation in the manner described in my Patent No. 2,118,011.

While it is preferred that the channel shaped reinforcing member 55$ be of metallic material,

it may be of any other suitable material adapted be integral with the side walls in order to econo-i mize in the manufacturing processes, it is obvious that the said extension El may be hingedly secured to the forward margins of the walls 52 and 53 in any other suitable manner.

The bottom reinforcing member 6 3 may be secured to the bottom wall 5Q in substantially the same manner as are the vertical reinforcing members 6B, 6! secured to their walls. That is, an extension 58 from the bottom wall E l either integral therewith or otherwise hingedly secured thereto carries secured thereon, preferably by adhesive, the reinforcing member 64. When the extension 58 and reinforcingmember E i are then folded up around the hinging line to into the interior of the casing, the bottom reinforcing member serves to provide a spacing and reinforcing means for the bottom of the casing.

The manner by which the'various reinforcing elements cooperate to interlock each other and maintain the casing in erected condition will best be understood from an explanation ofthe method of erecting the casing from the collapsed condition of Figure 4 to the erected condition of Figure 1.

The collapsed casing member of Figure, 4 is first'unfolded to the form shown in Figure 3. The angle wires 51, 5'! are then rotated downwardly inside the extensions s: so that they coincide with the fold lines 62, 62. The vertical notches 61, 61 bear against the lower ends of the.

vertical reinforcing members 60, 60.

The lower reinforcing member 64 is a tight frictional fit between the vertical reinforcing members 60, 60 and is thus securely held therein. Further, when the drawer is in place within the casing, the weight of the drawer resting on the lower reinforcing member 64 serves further to maintain the same in position. 7

The casing walls are maintained at the open front end in rigid angular relation by means of the rigid angle wires, one leg of each of which is now captured in the upper horizontal channel 56 and the other leg of which is captured between the extensions BI and their respective associated walls. The reinforcing, members 60, 60 carried by the extensions 6|, III are held in place by the abutment between them of the lower reinforcing member 64. I

Accordingly, when the lower reinforcing member 64 is in place, the vertical reinforcing members cannot move out of their erected position. Since these members cannot move out of position, the angle wire legs are rigidly held both with respect to the top wall and the side walls thus maintaining the walls at the open end of the easing in rigid angular relation.

Various materials may be utilized for these reinforcing members. Thus I have found that r..- inforcements made of cardboard or of corrugated board or of laminations thereof may be suflicient to provide compressive strength. In larger structures, stronger or stiffer fibrous structures such as wood, plywood, veneers, paper board or pressed pulp materials may be used.

In my commercial structures I have found that hard board furnishes a good result both with respect to strength and appearance.

In Figures 1-4 the bottom reinforcement is shown as having a form adapting it to be permanently secured to the casing and folded thereinto when the casing is erected. I have. found that a tight frictional fit between the vertical reinforcing members plus the securement of the extension 58 which supports the lower reinforcing member 64 at the fold line 65 to the bottom wall 54 will serve to maintain the lower reinforcing members of Figures 1-4 in place irrespective of any longitudinal stresses which may be exerted thereon by the sliding movement of the drawer.

As seen in Figure 5, the extension 6i is an integral extension of the side wall 53, being connected at the fold line 62. The reinforcin member 60 is adhesively secured to the outer edge of the extension 6| or it may be secured in any othersuitable manner.

In Figures 6, 8, 9 and 10, I have shown the type of interlocking member which has been applied to Figures 1 to 4.

lhe interlocking member I00, as seen in Figures 6 and 8, is a metallic member having securement flanges IOI and I02 on each side of a socketdefining section I03. The socket-defining section I03 consists of a pair of opposite narrow legs I -5, I05 defining top and bottom sections I09 and I08. The legs I00 and I05 are at their center extended at H0 and III and are there bridged b the socket-forming bridging member H3. The

sections I09 and I08 are therefore lower than the socket forming bridging member II3, thus form- 4 ing the slots H5 and H6 at the top and bottom of the member II 3 thus forming a single socket.

In order that the entire element may be formed from a single piece of material by ordinary die operating means, the sections I09 and I 00 at a lower level are provided with grooved sections I20 and I2I which take up all the surplus material which is left when the sections I09 and I08 and their associated legs I04 and I05 are lowered beneath the plane of the section I I3. The height of the legs I04 and I05 is substantially equal to the thickness of the wall of the casing.

Accordingly, the sectitons III] and III of the central legs will project beyond the opposite side of the wall of the container, when the interlocking member I00 is positioned opposite a slot in the container wall, while the outer surfaces of the flanges IOI and I02 rest against one surface of the side wall.

As seen in Figures 6 and 9, when the side flanges I ill and I02 are positioned against the wall of the container on the opposite sides of the slot I 30 therein, any suitable securing means such as the prongs I3! and I32 may be used to secure the flanges IOI and I02 against the inner surface of the container while the element II3 projects beyond the outer side thereof.

The prongs I3I and I32 may serve as suificient positioning elements and no additional positioning elements may be needed and consequently no additional formation shaping of the slot I30 is required.

However, as shown in Figure 9, the slot I30 may be provided with a crescent-shaped cut-out I35 communicating with the lower end thereof and a tongue I36 hingedly connected at I37 to the upper end thereof, the said tongue being formed by omitting the cut at the upper end I31 of the slot.

The interlocking element of Figure 8 is then mounted on the inner side of the container with the elements I09, H3 and I08 pressed outwardly through the slot I30 so that the element H3 projects beyond the outer surface of the wall and the tongue I36 with its wide bottom member I00 pushed back behind the interlocking element into the slot.

Accordingly, as seen in Figure 6 the interlocking element is then anchored by the tongue I36 and its lower anchoring element I00. Since the lateral extensions of the lower anchoring element I40 extend beyond the lower ends of the legs I04 and I05, they serve to prevent the interlock element from slipping down or out of the slot.

In actual practice, I have found, however, that the utilization of the tongue I 36 and the anchoring element I00 may be unnecessary and the slot I 30 may be cut at the upper edge I 31, thus entirely removing the material.

The socket forming element II 3, as has been above pointed out, forms the socket or pocket having the open ends H5 and H6 which are adapted to receive aninterlccking bar. When the anchoring element is mounted near the upper end of the casing, the interlock bar is slid in through the socket I I5. When the anchoring element is mounted adjacent the lower end of the casing, then the interlockbar is slid into the lower socket element I I6.

Accordingly, when casings are arranged in stacks with lower anchoringelements in each casing adjacent to the upper anchoring elements the upper socket of the upper anchoring element,

in the lower casing, it serves to interlock the casings at those particular corners.

By arranging similar anchoring elements at each of the four corners of the open front of the casing and, where necessary, at each of the four corners of the rear of the casing, full anchoring of the casing is obtained.

Obviously, this form of interlock lends itself not merely for use at the margins of the casing members but may also be used alon the side walls intermediate the margins or at any other portion of the casing where it is desired to eifect an interlock between that casing and the adjacent one.

The interlock bar which may be used is that shown in Figure 7. Th interlock bar 50 has an upwardly extending tongue element l5! and a lower element I52 which are adapted to be inserted in the sockets H5 and H0. The interlock bar also has a central shoulder portion I54 which positions the bar with respect to the socket; that is, the shoulder portion prevents the bar from falling downwardly into the socket and may serve to carry the weight of the casing against the margins of the socket.

The central shoulder portion 154 is provided with an outstanding lug I56 which may interlock with a similar lug on an adjacent interlock bar in an adjacent stack and inverted in order horizontally to integrate the stacks.

This type of interlock is also shown in my Patent No. 2,245,026 as well as in the interlocking element of my Patent No. 2,210,019.

By appropriate shaping of the socket element, any peg, pin, wire, splint, strip or slat may be used as an interlock bar.

The interlocking element 100 may also be utilized as a reinforcing element. Thus, for instance, the flange l02 may have an extension 160 separated from the flange I02 by the groove 16!. The groove 16! may coincide with the hinge line 62 of the casing. The extension I60 then coincides with the vertical flap 6| of the casing. Thus when the flap BI is rotated inwardly, the extension I60 is also rotated inwardly at the same time. The curved groove ltl furnishes an even bearing surface for the angle wire 57 which is thereby prevented from cutting the paper.

Accordingly, any specific reinforcement of the interior of the hinge line 62 is made unnecessary by reason of the fact that the extension of the interlocking member provides such reinforcement.

In the modified form shown in Figures 11 and 12, full utilization of the prongs for securing the interlockin member is made without the use of any additional securing elements. The interlock member 110 therein shown again fits into a slot III in the side wall of the casing. The slot III is here a simple cut-out in the side of the casing adjacent the top and bottom thereof. The interlocking element which may cooperate with the interlocking bar of Figure 7 consists of a channelshaped portion 113 and outwardly extending flanges IM and 115. These flanges are provided with prongs 116.

In the construction of the casing, the interlock member is placed on the interior of the casing; the channel-shaped member 113 is pushed through the slot ill to extend to the outward side of the casing, while the flanges H4 and H5 bear against the inner surface of the wall of the casing and the prongs I16 secure these flanges to the said inner wall.

The socket formin channel 113 may then be utilized in exactly the same manner as that set forth in connection with the interlock elements of Figures 6 to 10. Here again the flange ['15 may be provided with an extension E80 separated from the flange E75 by means of a groove ME. The groove 181 provides a metallic bearing surface for the angle wire 57, preventing it from tearing the paper at the hinge line 62.

In each of the foregoing I have described my invention in connection with specific preferred embodiments thereof. Many variations in the form and arrangement of each of these members should now be obvious to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, I prefer to be bound not by the specific disclosures herein but only by the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. An interlock element to be secured to a wall of a container; said element comprising a section having outer bridging elements and opposite parallel supporting legs; said legs at the central region of said section being higher than the portions of said legs adjacent the ends thereof; certain of said bridging elements connecting said opposite legs at the ends of said section; and one of said bridging elements connecting said opposite legs at the central region; said central bridging element bein in a plane spaced outwardly from that of the end bridging elements; said central bridging element and the higher portions of the legs defining a socket open at either end of said central bridging element.

2. An interlock element to be secured to a wall of a container; said element comprising a section having outer bridging elements and opposite parallel supporting legs; said legs at the central region of said section being higher than the portions of said legs adjacent the ends thereof; certain of said bridging elements connecting said opposite legs at the ends of said section; and one of said bridging elements connecting said opposite legs at the central region; said central bridging element being in a plane spaced outwardly from that of the end bridging elements; said central bridging element and the higher portions of the legs defining a socket open at either end of said central bridging element; and

I flanges extending from the edges of the legs opposite said ridging elements; said flanges extending in a plane parallel to the planes of the bridgingelements.

3. In a container; a vertical Wall; an opening in said wall; an interlock element mounted on said wall; said element comprising a section having outer bridging elements and opposite parallel supporting legs; said legs at the central region of said section being higher than the portions of said legs adjacent the ends thereof; certain of said bridging elements connecting said opposite legs at the ends of said section; and one of said bridging elements connecting said opposite legs at the central region; said central bridging element being in a plane spaced outwardly from that of th end bridging elements; said central bridging element and the higher portions of the legs defining a socket open at either end of said central bridging element; and flanges extending from the edges of the legs opposite said bridging elements; said flanges extending in a plane parallel to the planes of the bridging elements; said flanges being secured to said wall at the interior thereof; said section projecting into said opening; the central portion of said section extending beyond the outer surface of said wall.

PHILIP ZALKIND. 

